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Mooney Goes Wild

Mooney, Wednesday January 15th 2014

On Mooney today...

We take a look ahead to the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in the company of Paul G. Sheridan. We find out how office plants can help improve concentration and productivity in the workplace. And reporter Katriona McFadden meets the Discovery Gospel Choir, as we continue our search for a support act for The Blind Boys Of Alabama!

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Caring For Garden Birds This Winter

To find out how to care for and attract garden birds, read Jim Wilson's Guide To Garden Birds - CLICK HERE!

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Eurovision Song Contest 2014

It’s that time of year again when we start gearing up for Eurovision 2014. Ireland’s hopes for glory last year were all pinned on Ryan Dolan’s Only Love Survives. Despite a great performance, Ryan was voted into last place – and in the end it was Denmark's Emmelie de Forest who took home the coveted gong for her song Only Teardrops.

RTÉ has decided to retain the same mentoring procedure that it has used since 2011 for this year's Contest (the 59th!), which takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark. And you can hear the first play of the songs right here on Mooney on Thursday, February 6th!

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Plants At Work

Wherever the flowers have done, they generally can't be found in the average work environment. In the past, flowers and plants have been frowned on by many managers as some kind of distraction, when workers should have their heads down, making money for the company!

But in recent years, researchers are coming to the conclusion that plants and flowers in the workplace can actually increase worker happiness, and in turn, increase productivity and efficiency.

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Waltons New School Of Music & Discovery Gospel Choir

On Monday's programme, you might remember, we spoke briefly to John Mardirosian. He's the Director of the 'Waltons New School of Music' and told us that applications are now being accepted for their 'World Masters Gospel Competition'.

The prize is for one gospel choir to be the support act for the amazing The Blind Boys Of Alabama when they play the National Concert Hall on May 21st - AND the finalists will also be featured here on Mooney!

Well we ran out of time when we were talking to John so we decided to send Mooney reporter Katriona McFadden to Waltons New School of Music to find out a little more about the competition AND the school, which is the largest private music school in the country with 1200 students.

John wasn't there when Katriona visited, so instead she met John’s wife Aideen Walton. Aideen gave Katriona a tour of the music school, which is located on Georges St in Dublin. Katriona also went to listen to the Discovery Gospel Choir, who were rehearsing last night in the Church of St George and St Thomas on Dublin’s Cathal Brugha Street.

If you are in a gospel choir and would like a chance to win a spot supporting the Blind Boys of Alabama in the National Concert Hall on May 21st, then carry on reading for full details of how to apply. The closing date is March 21st – all finalists will perform on Mooney on April 10th - then The Blind Boys Of Alabama will have the casting vote - and the winner will be announced right here on May 1st!

Calling all Irish gospel choirs/groups!

Would you like to perform in the National Concert Hall as support act for gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama as well as on RTÉ Radio 1’s Mooney?

Mooney and Waltons World Masters Series are offering one lucky group the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do just that!

The Waltons World Masters Series welcomes The Blind Boys of Alabama back to Dublin and the National Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 21st 2014. Ireland has its own great tradition of gospel music, and one very special aspect of this concert is that the support act will be an Irish gospel choir/group selected by the third nationwide Waltons World Masters Gospel Competition, in association with the Mooney and RTÉ Radio 1! The winning choir/group will perform a 40-minute set before The Blind Boys take to the stage.

Eligibility

All Irish gospel choirs/groups are welcome to enter.

The Competition

After all entries are received, a shortlist of three finalists will be chosen by a jury made up of representatives from Waltons New School of Music and RTÉ Radio 1. The finalists will be announced and their recordings broadcast on the Mooney on Thursday, April 10th. Their entries will then be sent to The Blind Boys of Alabama, who will select the overall winner.

The winning choir/group will be announced on the Mooney on Thursday, May 1st, perform on Mooney on a date to be announced, and perform in the National Concert Hall as support act for the Blind Boys of Alabama on Wednesday, May 21st.

The winning choir/group will be responsible for their own transport to/from the venue, as well as accommodation (if required). The group will receive five pairs of tickets to the concert for guests, but there will be no monetary remuneration.

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Hedgerows: It is an offence to 'cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy hedgerows on uncultivated land during the nesting season from 1 March to 31 August, subject to certain exceptions'. For more information, click here.